November 25, 2018

Downright Winterish

Thanksgiving was a beautiful day. The westerly breeze was cool but it was warm in the sun. Perfect for the grandkids to play outside while the less interesting parts of the day (washing dishes) were executed. The next day it was a completely different story: cloudy, cold, wind from the north, and downright winterish. It was like somebody flipped a switch.

Heavy rain was predicted so I spent part of the afternoon walking in the woods and collecting kindling.


Our fall color has been late this year.


Usually, the leaves start to turn around the third week of October, but this year they waited until Thanksgiving weekend. Even now, the color is more subdued than spectacular.


Actually, it's unusual that the trees should be retaining so many leaves in late November.


Most years our trees are bare by now.


On Saturday the heavy rains came as predicted, showering leaves as well as raindrops. Now, the 10-day weather forecast indicates gradually sinking temperatures. Seems like winter is about to arrive.


Are you ready?

Downright Winterish © November 2018 

24 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Your fall sounds much like ours - late and then the crash.

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

Our cold weather arrived last week with freezing wind chill factors but the temperature is on the up again.

Leigh said...

Gorges, autumn used to be a favorite season with several months of moderate temperatures. This year those lovely days were just too few.

Tania, I always appreciate it when the temps go up again!

Cockeyed Jo said...

Not ready for snow yet. Still trying to put the orchard to bed for the winter. All the rain has stopped us. Jo

Mama Pea said...

Our fall was much earlier than yours, of course, but we had the same as far as colors showing and then . . . crash! Even without any wind or rain storm, the colorful leaves all seemed to come down at once. Under our big birch in the lawn area, we've never seen such a heavy covering of leaves. Almost as if they were dumped there by the wheelbarrow full!

Florida Farm Girl said...

Not really, but its coming anyway. Thank goodness for a cozy home. Our trees are still hanging onto a few of their leaves too.

Powell River Books said...

We used to split cedar for kindling, but for the last several years we have collected small sticks from our lake and dry them out for winter storage. That's a lot easier than all that chopping. - Margy

Quinn said...

I'd better be ready - it's been here a while now ;)

Leigh said...

Jo, yes the rain has really put the brakes on a number of getting-ready-for-winter projects here too. Some of mine may not get done till next spring!

Mama Pea, interesting about all the leaves. Do you use them for mulch or compost?

Sue, amen to that! I'm glad for every energy update we did to ours. It makes a difference.

Margy, that's what I call working smarter, not harder! lol. Dry wood is important, but so is dry kindling.

Quinn, ha! We'll be next, I'm sure. :)

Chris said...

Beautiful colours on your trees, Leigh. I'm glad thanksgiving was such a lovely day for you. Your cold weather is about to take over, and our heat is about to entrench itself. It will challenge our gardens, animals and ourselves. At least you now have the lovely barn for your goats, to help with the winter chills.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

Leigh, we actually had rather fine weather this weekend up to the mid-70 F, but the cold is coming back tonight. Like or not, Winter has come.

Donna OShaughnessy said...

As I write this we are getting torrential rain, and expecting it to turn to snow and blizzard conditions by midnight. Our barn is not finished but it is a good shelter for animals. Our grain bin is warm due to our rocket mass heater so really no complaints. But I believe (based on our brief and ugly Fall) this winter will hit all homesteaders HARD.

Goatldi said...

Agreed. We got hit by a winter storm this last week. And yet winter is not yet here officially. However Mt Shasta and Lassen are amazing with snow.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

I think we are all feeling the same way! Nice to see snow if you can sit in the house and watch he flakes come down! Nancy

Fiona said...

We are almost ready. And the leaves were about the same as last year. Thankfully there were very few asian beetles. Tonight it is changing though and tomorrow will be very cold for us. Your leaves are lovely.

Sherry said...

We lost our leaves early here in Southern Indiana. We had a light show of color but within a week they were down. Like Fiona the beetles were light this year, I was very thankful. I think I'm ready for winter, the best I can anyway. Leigh I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. Made my day.

Leigh said...

Chris, I don't ever think I'm ready for hot weather either! Here's hoping for pleasant seasons for us both.

TB, have to cherish those lovely days this time of year! I am happy that we have better cover for our firewood, because, as you say, it's coming ready or not.

Donna, thank heavens for a cozy home. It's getting time to just hunker down, isn't it?

Goatldi, California can certainly still use some rain, can't it? Better if it wasn't winter storms!

Nancy, hopefully, there won't be too many flakes!

Fiona sounds like it's hitting everywhere. Hadn't noticed fewer beetles, but it's true. Not only Asian, but we've had fewer stinkbugs and ladybugs trying to get into the house.

Sherry, all we can do is hope for the best! And you're welcome for the comment. I appreciate my blog visitors and commenters, plus the community we create together.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Beautiful fall photos. We really didn't get much of color time here. In fact one tree still has leaves and never got the time to change to bright red this fall. Crazy weather here for sure.

Theresa Y said...

Ready or not, it's coming. Button up everyone! Your leaves look vibrant compared to ours.

wyomingheart said...

Great to hear that Thanksgiving was good for you. I know about the weather this year... up on the ridge we missed the 70's completely. Went from 80's to 60's and hasn't looked back, as the 20's and 30's are the norm now. Your colorful leaves are great looking though.

Sam I Am...... said...

It's been unusual, weather-wise, here too. I have a feeling we are 'in for it' this Winter. Do you have to worry about snakes when you walk in the woods? They're probably hibernating now but we have timber rattlers and copperheads that like to hide under the leaves. I love the woods in fall but I steer clear....I'm a chicken!

Leigh said...

Kristina, it's funny how the color can vary so much from year to year. No rhyme or reason to it either. Pretty amazing, actually.

Theresa, thanks! Yes, it's on its way, like it or not!

Wyomingheart, thank you! Sounds like you've had a dramatic change in seasons too.

Sam, yes, we have snakes, but rarely see rattlers or copperheads. Our biggest problem is black (rat) snakes. They're harmless to humans, but eat eggs and baby chicks, so not welcome.

Ed said...

Winter came with a bang this year. We've already received more snow than we have in the last two years combined. The kids love it but I'm a little more ambivalent.

Leigh said...

Ed, that's not very encouraging! At least not for the adults. With kids, it's fun and no school!